MARTA Taking Proactive Security Measures in Response to Boston Explosions

In case you ride MARTA, read about their new security protocols.

Our friends at MARTA have just sent Cascade Patch a press release about the security changes that they are implementing after the deadly Boston Marathon bombings. According to the written statement by Cara Hodgson, MARTA is "heightening security on the transit system." Hodgson says that there are no imminent threats towards the transit system or its riders, but that they want to be proactive and take this opportunity to be even safer. MARTA is taking the following proactive measures: The MARTA Police Department (MPD) is working directly with federal, state and local agencies, including the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) and the Transit Security Administration (TSA) in Washington, D. C. to stay updated on any recommendations …

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MARTA's New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Schedule

Time, bus scheduling changes.

Downtown will have several activities for New Year's Eve including the Chick-fil-A Bowl at the Georgia Dome, the Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta and other events.     To accommodate these activities, MARTA is offering event rail service to transport riders to their destinations. Additional staff and police will be on hand to assist patrons. On New Year’s Eve, bus service will operate a regular weekday schedule.  Some bus routes will be rerouted for both the Chick-fil-A Bowl Parade and Peach Drop.  Beginning at 4 p.m., buses serving Five Points will be rerouted to other stations through the end of regular service. These bus changes are listed as follows: Listed below are the stations most convenient to various New Year’s Eve events:  …

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UPDATED: MARTA's Breeze Card Machines Still Down

Systemwide problems continue, so bring cash if you want to ride MARTA.

MARTA Breeze vending machines continue to experience delays systemwide. Customers are encouraged to bring cash for entry until debit and credit card function is restored. MARTA is increasing staff at several locations to reduce any inconvenience and help customers traverse the system with minimized delays. Earlier, MARTA said the debit card function was unavailable throughout the system, including Breeze vending machines, the Ride Store and online. MARTA customers are advised to continue to use cash until the specific cause of the problem has been isolated and corrected. In a statement, MARTA said it is working with its vendor, Cubic, fix the problem. Customer with questions should call Customer Information at 404.848.5000 or custserv@…

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MARTA Operating Through Labor Day

Going to events this weekend? Consider taking MARTA.

This Labor Day weekend, take a break from both work and traffic. You can take MARTA to sporting events, Dragon*Con and the Decatur Book Festival, to name a few events, according to a press release. To accommodate activities during the long weekend, MARTA will have special event rail service available to get customers quickly to their destinations. Additional staff and police will be on hand to assist patrons.    If you are new to riding MARTA, you are encouraged to purchase a roundtrip fare at the start of your trip to avoid long lines on the return.    Parking for less than 24 hours is free at all MARTA’s daily parking facilities. Customers parking in the decks at Lindbergh Center Station must park in MARTA designated areas and validate …

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Video: TSPLOST Debate - Sen. Vincent Fort says, "Vote NO, it's a Trick"

The Atlanta NAACP held a debate on the Transportation Referendum for SW Atlanta residents.

Southwest Atlanta residents were treated to a large Transportation Referendum debate, hosted by the Atlanta NAACP.  Tom Leslie who is Pro-TSPLOST debated State Senator Vincent Fort who is heavily against the Transportation Referendum. Recent articles have shown that support for the so-called penny tax has diminished in the recent weeks.  It seems that both Republicans and Democrats (especially African-Americans) are lining up against this proposal. Sen. Fort who is not currently up for re-election has spent the past month telling everyone how he feels about the referendum.  He told the NAACP crowds, that he believes, "It's a trick."  He says that it is not just a penny tax, but it is actually a two penny tax for us and our families, but "…

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Mr. Inclusivist

6:05 am on Sunday, July 29, 2012

I concur! The plan may not be perfect - what is? - but it is comprehensive, it is intelligent, it is very timely, and it has the support of all the right movers and shakers. It's a big area, we're facing big challenges, so our solutions - and minds - must also be big!   more ›

MARTA: Transit Makes July 4 Travel Easier

MARTA will operate a weekday rail schedule with special event service added throughout the day. Some busses will be rerouted around the Peachtree Road Race, but more trains will run to the starting line at Lenox.

Take MARTA to enjoy quick and convenient access to great July 4th events around town.  MARTA will have service available from 4:45 a.m. to 1 a.m. to accommodate the Peachtree Road Race, Braves game, fireworks displays and other celebratory events.    For only $2.50 each way (plus a $1 charge for a permanent Breeze card), it’s easy and affordable to take MARTA to enjoy July 4th festivities.  Due to the large crowds that are expected, customers should purchase a round-trip fare at the beginning of their trip to avoid long lines on the return. MARTA will operate a weekday rail schedule with special event service added throughout the day to accommodate the celebrations. Additional staff and police will be on hand to assist customers. Peachtree…

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MARTA Implementing Service Changes In Cascade, Throughout Atlanta

The changes take effect on Saturday.

  MARTA has announced it will implement service changes on a number of bus routes on Saturday, April 21, 2012, to improve overall service and on-time performance for customers.  In Cascade, the 6:25 am trip leaving the Hamilton E. Holmes station is being changed to leave at 6:28 am, to improve rail-to-bus connectivity. Also, trip times on routes 82 (Camp Creek/Welcome All) and 83 (Campbellton Road/Greenbriar) are being revised to improve schedule adherence. The service frequencies remain unchanged. The service frequency for Route 193 (Sylvan Hills) is also being widened from 30 to 35 minutes to improve schedule adherence. Trip times will be revised to accommodate the service change. For more information, visit www.itsmarta.com or call 404.…

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Half A Dozen People Injured In Cascade MARTA Accident

A tree fell onto a MARTA bus Thursday morning, sending several people to Grady Memorial Hospital.

Six people were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital on Thursday morning after a large tree fell onto a MARTA bus in Cascade. CBS Atlanta is reporting that the accident took place at the intersection of Campbellton Road and Stanton Road. According to the station, about 40 people were on board when the incident occurred. According to the AJC, a MARTA spokesman said there were no serious, life-threatening injuries, and there was minimal damage to the bus. Harris said the incident happened around 10 a.m. Thursday morning. Another bus was brought in to take passengers to their destinations.

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Petition for More State Funding for MARTA

Community Organizer Kwabena "Cubby" Nkromo shares petition for more MARTA fare funding from the state of Georgia.

  Dear Cascade Patch: On Feb. 1, residents from Atlanta will deliver a petition to Douglas R. Hooker, Executive Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission and Nathan Deal, Governor of Georgia signed by 3200 people. The petition was created on the website www.SignOn.org and states, "Transportation is central to metro Atlanta's growth and success. As the federally-designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the 18-county Atlanta region, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) develops regional plans and policies to enhance mobility. Among other issues, an aggressive and principled stance in support of adequate state funding of Atlanta public transportation that meets national standards could make a difference for the many people …

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Tweets, Likes & YouTube Posts

Atlanta Public Bus Desegregation 53 Years Ago

Atlanta city buses were racially integrated on Jan. 22, 1959, according to a tweet Sunday from The Atlanta History Center.

Fifty-three years ago Jan 22, the city of Atlanta desegregated public transportation, according to a tweet this morning from The Atlanta History Center (@ATLHistCenter) linking tweeple back to their "On This Day" page. The page does not go into detail about this bit of pre-MARTA Atlanta history, but The Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education's comprehensive "Atlanta in the Civil Rights Movement" website—to which The Atlanta History Center provides resources and information—offers this background: "The fight to desegregate public transportation in Atlanta met with less overt hostility but no less formidable opposition. In 1957, in the wake of the successful Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott, a group of 100 black Atlanta ministers of …

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